I think most people here are taking what Obama said and not applying it to the situation in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland has been since the 60's a hotbed of sectarian conflict between Irish republicans who want all of Ireland to be part of the Republic, and then there's the loyalists who still want to be part of Great Britain. Guess what? The republicans tend to be Catholic, the loyalists tend to be Protestant, and both republican and loyalist paramilitaries have religious influences in their attacks (ex. loyalists attacked Catholic churches, etc.)
The reason Obama said what he said is not because he doesn't like religious freedom, it's because splitting education down religious lines in Northern Ireland will cause strife and more conflict rather than slowly getting rid of the sectarian divisions and conflicts that still plague Ireland today.
Try to apply this to the situation in the country rather than thinking he means "Oh, let's destroy all religious education for no real reason whatsoever."
While religious zealotry is by no means dead in either the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland, the principal tool for terrorism of the Irish Catholics -- the IRA and by extension, the Provos -- is no longer in business. That happened in 2005.
Sinn Fein, on the other hand, is still very much a voice. But it's a political voice rather than an armed one.
The reason Obama said what he said is not because he doesn't like religious freedom, it's because splitting education down religious lines in Northern Ireland will cause strife and more conflict rather than slowly getting rid of the sectarian divisions and conflicts that still plague Ireland today.
Do you honestly believe that hogwash above? Do you honestly think that Barry gives a rat's ass about religion, much less religious freedom? I'm curious as to how you can arrive at that conclusion, since Barry is essentially non-religious at all. And his efforts toward education aren't to develop education for its own benefits, but to be recipients for his own brand of propaganda -- but I'll admit straight up that that's my opinion.
The problem in Ireland is ongoing, though much less violent than it used to be.
That said, when religious education ceases, here comes more of socialism. You can bank on it.
But of course, that's what Barry wants.
